Fluorescent fixture

ABSTRACT

A longitudinally extending, partially translucent casing for a fluorescent tube contains a shade rotatable about the fluorescent tube controlled by a member exterior to the casing.

Umted States Patent 11 1 [111 3,805,053 Julinot Apr. 16, 1974FLUORESCENT FIXTURE 2,980,792 4/1961 Johnston 240/s1.11 R [76] Inventor:Helmut D. Julinot, 464 Shelbourne 3,249,749 5/1966 Haas 240/5l.ll R

St., Toronto, Canada [22] Filed: Jam 26 1973 Primary Examiner-Richard L.Moses [211 App]. No.: 327,104

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 240/51.ll R, 240/11.4, 240/46.03 [5 l Cl- Alongitudinally extending translucent casing [58] Fleld of Search2.40/51-1 1 R, 1 R1 46-03 for a fluorescent tube contains a shaderotatable about the fluorescent tube controlled by a member exterior[56] References Cited to the casing UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,119,566l/1964 Close 240/46.03 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 16 I974SHEET 1 0F 2 PMENTEB APR 1 6 i974 SHEET 2 BF 2 FLUORESCENT FIXTURE Thisinvention relates to a fixture for supporting a fluorescent tube and forcontrolling the direction of illumination therefrom.

Heretofore, fluorescent tube fixtures have substantially consisted ofmeans for supporting the tube, ballast, cord and switch with littleattention being paid to shading and adjustment of the illuminationdirection.

This invention provides a novel mechanical arrangement for controllingthe radiation direction of light from a fluorescent lamp.

In a preferred embodiment, is shown a convenient and improved clampingmeans for attaching a fluorescent fixture or other device.

In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view, partially broken away, of the inventivefixture;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the fixture;

FIG. 3 shows a vertical cross-section of the fixture; and

FIG. 4 shows in detail the clamping means for the fixture;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

In the drawings; a standard 10, which may be clamped on to a table orshelf or the like is connected to support a casing 12 comprising anextended lighttransmitting cylindrical plastic tube 14 extending in onedirection from the standard and a shorter metallic tube 16 extending inthe other direction from the standard. The plastic tube 14, the metaltube 16 and the standard are connected together to form a unit, with thetube open at both ends and defining a passageway therethrough.

Although the clamping means forms the subject matter of some discussionhereafter, it should also be noted that in the broader aspects of theinvention dealing with the radiation shade adjustment, the clamped baseshown may be replaced by a stand or by a support of another kind.

The light transmitting extent 14 of the casing corresponds approximatelyto the extent of the illuminated portion of the fluorescent tube to bemounted therein, although, as shown, the plastic tube will extendslightly farther on each end thereof.

The fluorescent tube ballast 18 is mounted in the metal tube 16,preferably by providing a cylindrical sleeve 20 projecting from the lampadjacent end of the ballast, dimensioned to make a sliding fit withinthe plastic tube 14 which in turn, overlaps with a loose sliding fit,the tube 16. In the preferred embodiment, the metal tube 16, thestandard 10, the ballast sleeve and the plastic tube 14 are firmly fixedin position by: threading the end of the standard, providing an aperture22 in the tube 16, an aligned aperture in the tube 14 for passage of thethreaded end therethrough, and providing a threaded bore 24 in thesleeve 20 designed to receive the threaded shank end. The shank is slidthrough bore 22 and the bore in tube 14 and threaded into the sleeve 20and tightened to clamp the tubes 14 and 16 between a shoulder 26 on theshank and the sleeve 20. With this arrangement, the casing is securelyattached to the shank. The ballast 18 is coupled with a switch andoperating stem 28 mounted in the casing and dimensioned to project outof the end of the tube portion 16 when the ballast is fixed in position.An end cap 30 preferably of plastic is threaded into the end of themetal tube, to form a closure therefor of good appearance, and the maincap wall is centrally apertured to provide passage of the switch spindle28.

Adjacent and/or about the ballast, the metal tube 16 is provided withinternal counter weighting, not shown, if necessary to balance theprojecting weight in the other direction, of the fluorescent tube andcasing.

The free end of plastic tube 14 is also provided with an end cap 32slidably rotatable (not threaded) in the end of the tube 14 andcarrying, as described hereafter, means for supporting the fluorescenttube and socket in the casing.

The ballast mounting sleeve 20 is provided with a central spindle 34coaxial with tubes 14 and 16 extending toward the bulb location. Thespindle tapers toward the outer end, and just inwardly of the taper isprovided with a narrowed area 35 to prov'ide a shoulder 36 facing thedirection of the ballast. In addition the spindle is diametricallyslotted at slot 38 to a depth inward of shoulder 36.

On this spindle 34 may be snapped the support disc 40, having anaperture 42 to slide over the tapered spindle 34 and to be held in placeby the spindle shoulder 36 when the disc has passed.

As shown, one of the fluorescent lamp sockets 43 is bolted to the discon the side of the disc 40 remote from the ballast, substantiallycentrally of the circular edge of the disc 40. The socket 43 is recessedsufficiently to receive the tapered end of spindle 34 when the disc 40is received on the spindle. The circular edge of disc 40 is providedwith a cut-out 45, as shown, to allow passage of the fluorescent tubewires, and is provided with spaced (here 3) outwardly projecting tabs 44for support of the shading shield as hereinafter discussed.

The plastic end cap 32 is provided with a central aperture ashereinbefore discussed.

A disc 46 of circular outline is designed similarly-to circular disc 42,and is provided with a similar number of tabs 44, here three, which aredesigned to reside in corresponding slots in the shading member. Thesecond socket 47 for the fluorescent lamp is fastened by bolts to thedisc 46. The socket 47 is threaded to receive the bolt 51 so that whenthe bolt 50, with its head resting on the end cap and passing throughthe central bores in the end cap and in disc 46, is designed to threadinto the socket 47'to a depth to space the socket from its counterpartthe correct distance to house the tube. The end cap 32 with its inwardlyextending side walls, is provided with an arcuate lining 52 which isdimensioned to rest on that part of the edge of disc 40 which is withouttabs, the lining providing a shoulder at each end to meet the side edgeof the first tab 44 encountered in each arcuate direction. The effect ofthe interference between the side edges of the outer tabs 44 and theends of lining 52, is that the disc 46 is keyed to the end cap 32 forrotation therewith and for adjustment thereby.

An opaque shade for the fluorescent tube is provided, being a portion ofa cylinder, convex inward and concentric with the tube, encompassingpreferably, about of the 360 radiation direction from the tube. Theopaque shade is preferably of aluminum and designed to structurallyconnect the two discs 40 and 46 for rotation together. In the preferredembodiment,

the structural connection is achieved by making the shade 50 ofresilient material and of a shape, more convex than the complement ofthe tab locations and slotted at slots 48 to receive the tabs 44 fromboth discs. Thus the shade 50 is applied to the tabs 44 being designedto be resiliently flexed slightly wider when the tabs 44 are received inthe'slots, and the shade 50 inwardly biased against both disc surfacesis firmly held in position and couples the discs 40 and 46 forrotational motion together.

The wires for plugging in the lamp and for connecting the ballast andtube are shown only schematically as their arrangement and connectionwill be well known to those skilled in the art.

With the lamp assembled and connected, as described, the shade 50 may beadjusted by turning the end cap 32 to direct the rays from thefluorescent through a wide angle of directions. A tooth 54 on spindle 34just inwardly of disc 40 cooperates with a tooth 56 on the disc to limitthe rotation to about 350. When the end cap 32 is rotated, the two discs40 and 46, coupled by the shade 50 are rotated, and with them both lightsockets 43 and 48 and the tube. A convenient and straghtforward methodof providing controlled illumination and shading in various directionsis provided controlled by adjustment of the end cap 32. The shade may beprovided with a reflectant coating to the degree of reflectivitydesired.

It is within the scope of the invention to provide a shade 50 adjustableby the end cap 32 either: coupled to both end socket supports in adifferent manner from that shown, or a shade 50 supported at both endsfor rotation by the end cap 32 in a manner allowing rotation of shade 50by end cap 32, without rotation of the socket.

With the specific form of invention shown, a fluorescent bulb isreplaced by removing bolt 51, then end cap 32, detaching disc 46 fromshade 50 by flexing the latter outwardly, and withdrawing the end cap 46and socket 47 from the fluorescent tube. The tube is then withdrawn anda new tube fitted in the remote socket 43. The socket 47 and disc 46 arethen fitted over the near prongs of the new tube, the shade is fittedover the tabs of disc 46 and the end cap screwed back into place.

In a preferred form of the invention there is provided a novel clamp,suitable for the mounting of fixtures of the type disclosed. The clampavoids the disadvantages of prior clamps which create their clampingpressure exterior to the common mounting of the clamping ears and alongthe cantilever extent thereof. Such prior constructions have createdoblique biasing pressures and unsure clamping.

7 Accordingly there is here provided a clamp for fluorescent lamps orthe like, which is clamped along the common mount for the clamping ears,and thus provides direct and sure clamping pressure.

The clamp comprises a first clamping ear 60 with a stepped clampingextremity as shown, with a bore 52 to render it adjustably slidable onthe standard 10 whereon it may be fixed by adjustment of the set screw64. A cooperating clamping ear 66 is provided with an aperture 68 to beslidable on the shank with a stepped extremity facing the extremity ofcar 66 so that the two clamping ears will cooperate to attach to a shelfor table edge, as shown. A nut 70 is threaded on an extent of the shankon the side of the cooperating clamping ear remote from the firstclamping ear, and designed to be rotated to limit the maximum spacing ofthe ears 60 and 66 whereby nut 70 may be tightened to clamp the earsabout the support.

I claim:

1. Fluorescent fixture comprising:

a longitudinally extending casing;

light transmitting portions in the side of said casing;

means for rotatably mounting toward one end of said casing, one endsocket for a fluorescent bulb,

means for rotatably mounting, toward the other end of said casing, theother end socket for such fluorescent bulb,

an opaque member designed to connect said rotatable mounting means andto rotate therewith whereby said opaque member couples said mountingmeans for rotation together,

said opaque member being designed and constructed to rotate outside thelocus of a fluorescent tube mounted in said socket and designed andconstructed to occlude by rotation, varying areas of said lighttransmitting portions,

means exterior to said casing for rotating said opaque member.

2. A fluorescent fixture comprising:

a longitudinally extending casing, light transmitting portions in theside of said casing,

a socket for each end of the tube,

means for mounting each said socket,

a shade member connectible to each of said mounting members, dimensionedso that, when connected, said sockets are spaced the length of afluorescent tube to receive the prongs of a fluorescent tube, said shademember being located to allow the presence of said tube, but to occludethe path of radiation therefrom in predetermined directions, whileallowing radiation in other predetermined directions,

whereby said mounting members and said shade form an assembly,

means for rotatably mounting said assembly in said casing,

means for rotating said assembly when so mounted.

* II! l

1. Fluorescent fixture comprising: a longitudinally extending casing;light transmitting portions in the side of said casing; means forrotatably mounting toward one end of said casing, one end socket for afluorescent bulb, means for rotatably mounting, toward the other end ofsaid casing, the other end socket for such fluorescent bulb, an opaquemember designed to connect said rotatable mounting means and to rotatetherewith whereby said opaque member couples said mounting means forrotation together, said opaque member being designed and constructed torotate outside the locus of a fluorescent tube mounted in said socketand designed and constructed to occlude by rotation, varying areas ofsaid light transmitting portions, means exterior to said casing forrotating said opaque member.
 2. A fluorescent fixture comprising: alongitudinally extending casing, light transmitting portions in the sideof said casing, a socket for each end of the tube, means for mountingeach said socket, a shade member connectible to each of said mountingmembers, dimensioned so that, when connected, said sockets are spacedthe length of a fluorescent tube to receive The prongs of a fluorescenttube, said shade member being located to allow the presence of saidtube, but to occlude the path of radiation therefrom in predetermineddirections, while allowing radiation in other predetermined directions,whereby said mounting members and said shade form an assembly, means forrotatably mounting said assembly in said casing, means for rotating saidassembly when so mounted.